Saturday, May 9, 1998 Last modified at 4:45 a.m. on Saturday, May 9, 1998

Trespassing minister freed from jail

LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) - A Texas preacher and leader of the nation's largest anti-abortion group emerged unrepentant from nearly three months in jail Friday, criticizing the Rev. Jerry Falwell and promising more protests.

"I am a prisoner of Christ, a captive to his call," the Rev. Flip Benham told about 25 supporters during a prayer vigil in a light, intermittent rain. "We will continue to come back to Lynchburg until perhaps one day the knees of the mighty will bow before our great king Jesus."

Benham had been in the city jail since Feb. 18, serving time for trespassing on the campus of E.C. Glass High School during a November anti-abortion demonstration he organized.

Benham was arrested after about 150 students from Liberty University, the Christian college Falwell founded, joined him in handing out anti-abortion leaflets and holding placards outside the high school.

At Benham's trial, high school students testified that the demonstrators blocked their path.

Benham promised more and better-organized demonstrations if the trespassing conviction against a Liberty student who took part in the high school demonstration is not reversed on appeal.

While Benham was jailed, Operation Rescue and allied religious and anti-abortion groups held frequent and noisy protests in Lynchburg. Demonstrators blasted local officials and accused Falwell of not coming to their aid.lgtlntrnographers